Would You Eat A Raw Food Diet?

March 10, 2008 | 18 Comments

Photo by E p i t a
A menu consisting of raw foods sounds kind of boring, huh!

Yet, people who eat raw food diets claim they feel younger, have increased their energy, healed their body of certain ailments, and have even lost weight.

But, before you answer the question above - “Would you eat a raw food diet?” - let’s clear up the definition of “raw food” as it seems everyone has different opinions. Raw does not mean eating nothing but raw vegetables …. or salads. A raw menu, according to Carol Alt over at Raw Nutrition, can consist of sandwiches, smoothies, soup, granola, hummus, and desserts. Raw simply means foods that have not been cooked. And that can include vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, unpasteurized dairy products, fish, and meat. Raw can also mean (and this is where some may disagree) food that has not been sprayed with pesticides, has no added preservatives, or has not be irradiated (treated with ionizing radiation to kill germs). I personally think of the latter as organic, but for some people this falls under the raw category because its causes foods to lose their vitality.

There are pros and there are cons to cooking these foods.

The pros are the main purpose for cooking the foods . . . to destroy all bacteria and other pathogens that could cause serious illnesses. And for that reason alone, many people understandably choose not to eat a raw food diet.

And the cons . . . that eating foods cooked at high temperatures (more than 112 degrees) can increase the rate at which we age plus it can contribute to weight gain. Again, according to Carol Alt, this is due to four things happening to the food when it is cooked at high temperatures:

1. The molecular structure changes.
2. The enzymes are killed.
3. The vitamins and minerals are destroyed.
4. The acid alkaline balance changes.

All this has an effect on how our body digests food which in turn prevents us from absorbing all the nutrients we need. The end result … the onset of weight gain and aging more quickly.

The health benefits of choosing raw foods over cooked include,

1. Weight loss
2. Slower aging
3. Better digestion
4. Increase energy
5. Improved skin appearance
6. Reduced heart disease

By simply changing how foods are prepared, we could shed our body of fat and we could lessen the effects of aging. But before giving up all our home-cooked meals, we need to decide which is the better risk,

1. Consuming foods that are cooked and considered bacteria free but which could promote weight gain and early aging, or
2. Consuming foods that are raw and facilitate weight loss and anti-aging and which perhaps is not bacteria free, but the fact that it provides better absorption of nutrients may be enough to protect against diseases.

For recipes for a raw food diet, consider Carol Alt’s book, The Raw 50: 10 Amazing Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, and Drinks for Your Raw Food Lifestyle.

Technorati Tags: raw food diet, Carol Alt, benefits of raw food, health, wellness, weight loss

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Beauty, Blog, Health, Weight Loss, Wellness

Cosmetic Surgery: The Quest For Perfection

February 13, 2008 | 6 Comments

Photo by Jose Miguel Serrano
We want it all!

In the book, Facelift Hotel, the author Maggie Lockridge describes her experiences of tending to the rich and famous following cosmetic surgeries of all kinds. But celebrities aren’t the only ones seeking to beautify themselves. Women from everywhere, young to old, are seeking cosmetic enhancements. We want to control how we look and how we feel. So we look for the best cutting-edge cosmetic treatments.

How far will we go to achieve perfection?

In 2006 Botox was the number one cosmetic treatment, with more than 3 million procedures being performed, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. And 93% of those patients were women. But just take a look at other types of surgeries we will undergo:

Body lift, brow lift, breast lift, face lift, neck lift, thigh lift, suspension lift, tummy tuck, breast reduction or breast enlargement, liposuction, nose shaping, eyelid surgery, lip augmentation, and even vaginal augmentation.

Before going under the knife, be aware that there could be complications.

While it is true that complications from cosmetic surgery are not as common as they used to be, the fact is that they do occur. Consider the unfortunate recent death (Nov. 2007) of Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, who died following a tummy tuck and breast reduction procedure. If you are determined to follow through with cosmetic surgery, please take these precautions so as to lessen your chances of complications:

Make sure your surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon in good standing with your state’s medical board. (This was not the case with Donda West’s surgeon.)
Be sure to share your full health history with your surgeon to help avoid potential complications.
Never go into surgery without your doctor doing a complete health evaluation.
Prior to treatment, make sure your surgeon gives you pre- and post-procedure instructions.
Discuss with your surgeon all risks involved.

If your surgeon fails to provide any of the above, then you need to look for a new surgeon or reconsider surgery altogether. There are other signs to watch for as well that indicate you have a bad doctor:

Doctors who make unrealistic promises or minimize the risks involved.
Doctors who suggest additional procedures unrelated to what you are seeking.
Doctors who offer special prices as an incentive to surgery or who do not outline the cost prior to surgery.

In my opinion, a surgeon located in St. Louis, Missouri, said it best with this quote,

“A large part of looking youthful on the outside is dependent upon what you do on the inside.”

Technorati Tags: cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, Facelift Hotel

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Beauty, Blog

Four Enemies That Destroy Our Skin

February 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Photo by Kamila Piech
Premature aging of the skin. Can it be stopped?

While the visible signs of aging cannot be stopped, they can be diminished. Here are four aging enemies you can combat by making certain lifestyle changes.

Enemy No. 1: The Environment

As we age, our skin’s antioxidant defense system weakens and loses its capacity to fight off oxidative stress caused by free radical damage. This leads to deterioration of the skin cells resulting in dull, lifeless skin. We cannot prevent free-radical damage, but we can reduce it by eating an anti-oxidant rich diet. The affect oxidation has on our skin is similar to an apple cut in half. Exposed to the air, the apple turns brown. But if you put lemon juice on it before it turns brown, the apple is preserved. In the same manner, antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, help preserve our skin from the inside out and minimize the damage. High antioxidant-rich foods include: acai berries, pomegranates, blueberries, tomatoes, and spinach. The darker the fruit or vegetable, the more likely it is to have a high amount of antioxidants.

Enemy No. 2: The Sun

UV exposure is a main contributor to premature aging. It destroys the skin’s support structure and leads to sagging skin as well as lines and wrinkles. A small amount of sun exposure is necessary for your skin to produce Vitamin D. But 10 or 15 minutes will do just fine. Beyond that, there is no health-related reason whatsoever to be in the sun. In fact, the longer your exposure to the sun, the more serious the UV damage will be and the more premature aging you will encounter. When in the sun for long amounts of time, be sure to use a sunscreen that includes broad-spectrum protection which blocks both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. (Speaking of free-radical damage in No. 1 above, one of the major contributors of free radical damage is UV radiation.)

Enemy No. 3: Eating Too Much Sugar

Having too much sugar in our diet breaks down the support structure and leads to loss of firmness and elasticity of the skin. Our body metabolizes the sugars we eat for energy. The excess that isn’t burned as fuel can play a role in the deterioration of the skin. According to Dr. Perricone, sugar “causes inflammation that destroys our bodies and attaches to collagen, which results in stiff, inflexible, sagging skin.” Cutting back on refined sugars is an important lifestyle change in order to maintain youthfulness.

Enemy No. 4: Smoking

We all know that smoking isn’t good for you. Both firsthand and secondhand smoke leads to damage to our health. Besides being a major risk for lung cancer, strokes, and heart disease, smoking accelerates aging both inside and out. It increases facial lines and wrinkles and it delays skin healing. If you want to live long and healthy, you should avoid smoking at all costs.

Technorati Tags: premature aging, anti-aging, anti-oxidant foods

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Beauty, Blog

Joan Van Ark: The Results Of Addiction To Botox

December 5, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Is Our Attempt To Defy Age Worth The Cost?

Probably by now you have seen in the news the recent photos of Joan van Ark’s (1980’s Knot’s Landing star) failed attempts at cosmetic surgery. If you have not, go to Daily Mail to read up. Unfortunately, Joan has taken cosmetic surgery to the extreme and she is now paying the ultimate price.

Once a gorgeous woman, Joan van Ark is now 64 years old and she provides us the perfect example of how not to combat wrinkles. While a little Botox can appear to do wonders, an addiction to cosmetic procedures (whether surgical or non-surgical) can cause you to fail miserably in your attempts to turn back time. A plastic surgeon by the name of Jan Adams was once quoted as saying, “You have to be realistic about what your goal is in terms of what you are trying to achieve.” Joan is living proof that a 60-year-old woman trying to regain her 20-year-old face is not a good thing.

A little info about Botox.

Botox is by far the most popular procedure of all cosmetic procedures. Botox stands for Botulinum Toxin Type A. It is a protein that is produced by the same bacteria that causes botulism - a food poisoning. A quote on the FDA website states that Botox is “the most poisonous poison.” It can be fatal when used improperly.

Botox works by paralyzing the muscles it comes into contact with. However, it is only temporary as nerve cells will grow new connections to your muscles. As a result, in order to maintain wrinkles, the Botox procedure must be done repeatedly.

Some complications may arise from Botox.

Usually, any complications from Botox are minor and short lived. They include:

the face appearing too tight,
some facial features may not match the rest of the face, and
muscles may be prevented from contracting and creating frown lines.

But there are more serious risks. There is the rare possibility that the Botox injection can spread to other areas and cause paralysis in unintended muscles. There have been reports of paralyis in the throat thereby restricting swallowing, but this would normally be the result of improper injections and not a result of injecting the poison. Administering Botox requires skill and accuracy. When applied properly, it is relatively safe. However, improper injections can cause serious health problems, including death.

The majority of Botox patients report experiencing no serious side effects whatsoever. But because Botox is temporary and has to be re-injected, and because it is considered to be a poison, I would be hesistant to get started with such a continual procedure. With every injection, you increase your risk of a serious complication. In Joan van Ark’s circumstance, she appears to have become addicted to cosmetic surgery. There are reports that she insists on a procedure before every public event. But looking at her picture, I say she failed on her journey to turn back time, but rather she hit the fast forward button instead.

Technorati Tags: botox

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Beauty, Blog